Not so long ago, my husband and I took a well-deserved time off. We both work from home and even though there are perks of being your own boss we always fall into the trap of having difficulty in separating down time from work time. Our friends and family back home have the impression that we’re on vacation mode 24/7, but that’s far from the truth. My typical day would consist of school runs and work. While also trying to convince myself that I’m a competent domestic goddess.

I love my job, don’t get me wrong. But a break once in a while wouldn’t go a miss and a weekend getaway is a perfect solution to recharge my batteries. It’d be lovely to have something different to stare at other than my computer screen. So when my brother in law came to visit for a few days and suggested that he’ll gladly do the babysitting duties, it didn’t take me much convincing to dust off my weekend bag and pack ready for our mini break in Denia. 

Denia is about an hour and a half south of Valencia situated in the province of Alicante. It’s a historic, cosmopolitan and cultural city that has remained free of mass tourism and has grown organically preserving all its authenticity. The Port of Denia serves as the main ferry route to Ibiza and Mallorca, and on a clear day, you’ll be able to see an outline of the Balearic Islands.

A Rustic Hotel By The Port

We stayed at the Posada Del Mar Hotel. Perfectly located at the foot of Denia castle overlooking the port. The 13th-century building has been restored over the years, but yet, still maintains it’s charming and unique character. The hotel has all the features you would expect from a rustic boutique hotel. Cosy, warm and tastefully decorated with relics of antiquities from the past. The hidden seating areas in the reception where you can take a little time out for peace in quiet is a nice touch and just what I needed…

A Room With An Awesome View

So far our staycation got off to a good start. The hotel kindly upgraded our room which was an appreciated touch. We were given the Junior Suite on the 4th floor with a balcony overlooking the marina (YAY!). The room is beautifully laid out. Simple with Moorish-inspired decorations. I especially loved the seating area strewn with colourful velvet pillows. The balcony was spacious enough to have two sun-beds. There was also a table with two chairs an ideal spot to have a coffee or a glass of wine while watching the world go by.

Exploring Denia

After the excitement of receiving a free upgrade, Mr.B and I decided to look for lunch.  Unfortunately, the hotel does not have a bar on the premises, but around the corner, is an alternative bar and restaurant called Es Tapa Ti. They offer a great range of tapas and main courses at a reasonable price. I had a glass of house white and picked a few tapas to share. We tried not to talk about work, instead, we reflected on how fortunate we are to be able to do this even if it’s only for a short weekend.

An Ideal Weekend

After lunch, we explored Denia a little bit more.  We visited a few more bars, looked at some of the architectures and admired the window displays in pastry shops. Honestly, this is my perfect weekend. We strolled along the port and admired the luxurious yachts asking ourselves “I wonder how much it costs to keep a boat like that?!” As we admired from afar, we also saw the ferry full of party goers headed to Ibiza. A stark contrast to the quiet and relaxing weekend we have planned.

Like many Spanish towns and cities, the Denia’s mood shifts into a vibrant and buzzing atmosphere during the evening. But we wanted to take it easy. Partying wasn’t on our agenda and it hasn’t been for the past few years! Instead of heading towards the hustle and bustle of the centre, we backtracked along the narrow streets and found one of Denia’s oldest wineries.

If you’re a wine geek then this place is for you. Bodega del Puerto have great selections of wines and spirits. It reminded me of Oddbins back in the UK but without the pretentious labels and hefty price tags. Wines that you will get from Bodega del Puerto are locally sourced or originally from Spain. They also offer an extensive menu of different tapas and main dishes. All at a reasonable and non-touristy price.

If it’s culture, food and a pretty portside town you’re looking for then Denia is an excellent choice. This beautiful city offers a lot more to see and do, but this time we wanted to do as minimal as possible.  It was certainly the perfect choice for our staycation and a well deserved R&R.